A man driving a genuine NYPD car filled with imitation firearms has complained after he was arrested by police and quizzed for four hours.

Mark Knight, 33, was spotted by officers from Surrey Police after he parked his black and white squad car up on double yellow lines in Guildford town centre while he popped into a McDonald's.

Armed officers swooped to the scene and took him away in handcuffs.

Police seized three guns – a shotgun, a hand gun and an AK47 - in the £12,000 vehicle which were found to be decommissioned, as well as a canister resembling CS gas that was, in fact, purple dye and a baton made from foam rubber.

Mr Knight, from Churt, was locked up for four hours and quizzed by detectives before he was cleared and told he would face no further action.

He has been left furious by the incident, insisting that he uses the car for events and charity work.

When he returned home from the cells he found his house had been searched.

Mr Knight also alleges that officers left medication out which his dog ate and is now seriously ill.

Megan, a 19-month-old boxer cross Staffordshire terrier, was on a drip at a local vets on Tuesday, recovering after consuming drugs used to treat her owner’s high cholesterol.

“I wasn’t even pulled up on the double yellow line parking. I would have taken a ticket on the chin otherwise. I was kept in a police cell for four hours and then questioned.

“This could have been avoided. I can’t believe it got to this. As for my dog getting ill, if she dies, that’s not right.

“It could be she has medication for life if there’s anything wrong with her kidneys. I know my medication was in a high shelved wall cabinet when I left home but when I got back it had been eaten and the packet was on the sofa.

“I can only think it was left at a height or a position where it could be got at.

“I took her to the vets immediately. I don’t know how bad she is. She’s on fluids. I hope she pulls through.

“If the officer had made the correct checks and looked under my name or registration plate to check these guns, it wouldn’t have got to this,” said Mr Knight.

A spokesman for the force said: “Surrey Police can confirm it has received a complaint relating to this incident; this is being dealt with by the force’s Professional Standards Department.”